Gaetz, “an unapologetic supporter of FCAT,” debated school testing and teacher tenure with a couple of former educators in the audience.

One of them, Pat Burrough, said she couldn’t understand why the state would authorize an exam like Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test that she contended focused only on math and reading.

“I never saw it as a real good test for students,” Burrough said.

Gaetz predicted that legislation will trend more this year toward “de-emphasizing portions of the FCAT people find troublesome.”

The move in education, he said, would be “more toward end-of-course” testing.

“We shouldn’t take the scoreboard down in the classroom,” and a competitive world demands measurable standards for students, he said.

Gaetz called teacher tenure “an immoral concept.” He said he favors removing teachers found to be “chronically underperforming” after a period of three years.

“Too often we allow teachers who shouldn’t be there to stay in the classroom,” he said.

Gaetz also said he favors legislation that would charge college students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields less than those majoring in subjects like psychology, which he claimed was the No. 1 degree achieved in Florida.

“If a bright young person wants to get a biochemistry degree, it should not cost the same amount of money as someone who wants a psychology degree,” he said.

He said incentivizing students to achieve in STEM classes will ultimately lure high-paying businesses seeking a well-trained workforce to Florida.

Gaetz and league members clearly differed on the issues of prison overcrowding and felony amnesty.

Gaetz said there are “private sector vendors” quietly pushing early prison release proposals.

“Their goal to grow their market is to let people out of jail sooner,” he said.

He said he wouldn’t support such proposals.

“I will stand in the breach, opposing letting people out of jail before they serve 85 percent of their sentence,” he declared.

Mary Blackwell, the local league’s president, said this year the state organization again will push to restore voting and other rights to residents with felony convictions in their past.

“If you’re not willing to restore their rights, their debt is never paid,” she said. “Once you’re done, if you’re going to just pay and pay, you’re going to go back to doing what you were doing before. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Gaetz saw things differently.

“If someone is a felon they surrender their ability to elect our leaders,” he said.

While the league has battled for more hours for early voting, Gaetz suggested increases could actually benefit candidates with deep pockets.

Wealthy candidates could pummel potential voters with mailings and other campaign material over an extended period if the number of days allowed for voting were increased, he said.

Gaetz said gun control is sure to come up in this legislative session and should produce interesting, even “zany proposals,” from each side of the issue.

He said he supports the “stand your ground” law and told a questioner he didn’t believe that it made sound constitutional sense to administer psychological tests to potential gun buyers.

He said he also would not favor the unrestricted arming of teachers.

“We have teachers in our schools who suffer bipolar disorders and mental disorders,” he said. “We don’t need to put weapons in the hands of more people with mental illness.”

After the meeting Gaetz said he enjoyed the back and forth with league members.

“I’m a lawyer and a former high school debater,” he said. “I see this group as a part of the 155,000 I represent. Not everyone is going to agree on every issue.”

Blackwell said although “oftentimes we are on opposite sides of an issue” she could not fault Gaetz’s work ethic as a legislator.

She said she actually was hoping for “more back and forth” at the meeting attended by just 12 league members.

Gaetz, “an unapologetic supporter of FCAT,” debated school testing and teacher tenure with a couple of former educators in the audience.

One of them, Pat Burrough, said she couldn’t understand why the state would authorize an exam like Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test that she contended focused only on math and reading.

“I never saw it as a real good test for students,” Burrough said.

Gaetz predicted that legislation will trend more this year toward “de-emphasizing portions of the FCAT people find troublesome.”

The move in education, he said, would be “more toward end-of-course” testing.

“We shouldn’t take the scoreboard down in the classroom,” and a competitive world demands measurable standards for students, he said.

Gaetz called teacher tenure “an immoral concept.” He said he favors removing teachers found to be “chronically underperforming” after a period of three years.

“Too often we allow teachers who shouldn’t be there to stay in the classroom,” he said.

Gaetz also said he favors legislation that would charge college students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields less than those majoring in subjects like psychology, which he claimed was the No. 1 degree achieved in Florida.

“If a bright young person wants to get a biochemistry degree, it should not cost the same amount of money as someone who wants a psychology degree,” he said.

He said incentivizing students to achieve in STEM classes will ultimately lure high-paying businesses seeking a well-trained workforce to Florida.

Gaetz and league members clearly differed on the issues of prison overcrowding and felony amnesty.

Gaetz said there are “private sector vendors” quietly pushing early prison release proposals.

“Their goal to grow their market is to let people out of jail sooner,” he said.

He said he wouldn’t support such proposals.

“I will stand in the breach, opposing letting people out of jail before they serve 85 percent of their sentence,” he declared.

Mary Blackwell, the local league’s president, said this year the state organization again will push to restore voting and other rights to residents with felony convictions in their past.

“If you’re not willing to restore their rights, their debt is never paid,” she said. “Once you’re done, if you’re going to just pay and pay, you’re going to go back to doing what you were doing before. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Gaetz saw things differently.

“If someone is a felon they surrender their ability to elect our leaders,” he said.

While the league has battled for more hours for early voting, Gaetz suggested increases could actually benefit candidates with deep pockets.

Wealthy candidates could pummel potential voters with mailings and other campaign material over an extended period if the number of days allowed for voting were increased, he said.

Gaetz said gun control is sure to come up in this legislative session and should produce interesting, even “zany proposals,” from each side of the issue.

He said he supports the “stand your ground” law and told a questioner he didn’t believe that it made sound constitutional sense to administer psychological tests to potential gun buyers.

He said he also would not favor the unrestricted arming of teachers.

“We have teachers in our schools who suffer bipolar disorders and mental disorders,” he said. “We don’t need to put weapons in the hands of more people with mental illness.”

After the meeting Gaetz said he enjoyed the back and forth with league members.

“I’m a lawyer and a former high school debater,” he said. “I see this group as a part of the 155,000 I represent. Not everyone is going to agree on every issue.”

Blackwell said although “oftentimes we are on opposite sides of an issue” she could not fault Gaetz’s work ethic as a legislator.

She said she actually was hoping for “more back and forth” at the meeting attended by just 12 league members.